Car Seats in a Compact Car

We are trying to conceive and need to buy a new car. Since we don't have a car seat yet, I am trying to figure out if an infant carrier (and eventually a convertible seat) will fit comfortably in the back seat of a 2012 Chevy Cruze.

Any experienced moms out there that can share their experiences with a compact car and car seats?

Better yet, any mom out there that has a Chevy Cruze that can tell us about their experience?

Thanks!!

We are trying to conceive and need to buy a new car. Since we don't have a car seat yet, I am trying to figure out if an infant carrier (and eventually a convertible seat) will fit comfortably in the back seat of a 2012 Chevy Cruze.

Any experienced moms out there that can share their experiences with a compact car and car seats?

Better yet, any mom out there that has a Chevy Cruze that can tell us about their experience?

I've got a Honda Civic. The Maxi-Cosi infant carrier fit just fine. About to install the new Britax Boulevard so we'll see but I think it should be fine. It really depends on the set-up of the inside of the car but you should definitely be able to find some car seats that fit. You may just have to move the front passenger seat all the way forward to make more room.

I've got a Honda Civic. The Maxi-Cosi infant carrier fit just fine. About to install the new Britax Boulevard so we'll see but I think it should be fine. It really depends on the set-up of the inside of the car but you should definitely be able to find some car seats that fit. You may just have to move the front passenger seat all the way forward to make more room.

We didn't get that exact car for this reason. We had already purchased the graco smartseat, which is like a freaking tank. In the end, we decided the Cruz was just too small in every aspect. I used to have a cavalier and it seems like the Cruz was smaller

We didn't get that exact car for this reason. We had already purchased the graco smartseat, which is like a freaking tank. In the end, we decided the Cruz was just too small in every aspect. I used to have a cavalier and it seems like the Cruz was smaller

We have a Ford Focus (not sure how it compares to the Cruze, but it is pretty small). I have been able to fit a lot of infant seats and convertibles in there, I am a car seat tech so I might have a small obsession with trying out different car seats in my vehicle :) As infant seats go I would recommend against the Evenflo and Baby Trend seats as their handle position requirement means they take up more front to back room in the vehicle, but they may fit. I always, always recommend that parents try out a car seat in their car before they buy it (Babies R' Us will let you do this, as will some other baby boutiques). As far as convertibles the MyRide as well as the Britax seats take up less room front to back, but many rear facing convertibles for older babies can be more upright than 45 degrees and so take up less room than an infant carrier. We were even able to fit the Radian (which has a tall back) in our Focus with it at 35 degrees instead of 45 degrees.

We have a Ford Focus (not sure how it compares to the Cruze, but it is pretty small). I have been able to fit a lot of infant seats and convertibles in there, I am a car seat tech so I might have a small obsession with trying out different car seats in my vehicle :) As infant seats go I would recommend against the Evenflo and Baby Trend seats as their handle position requirement means they take up more front to back room in the vehicle, but they may fit. I always, always recommend that parents try out a car seat in their car before they buy it (Babies R' Us will let you do this, as will some other baby boutiques). As far as convertibles the MyRide as well as the Britax seats take up less room front to back, but many rear facing convertibles for older babies can be more upright than 45 degrees and so take up less room than an infant carrier. We were even able to fit the Radian (which has a tall back) in our Focus with it at 35 degrees instead of 45 degrees.

My fiancé has a Subaru STi, which has a small back seat. I'm not sure how it compares to your car, but it wasn't built to be a family car by any means. Luckily it has four doors! Anyway, we had a Chicco infant seat and we have the Graco Nautilus now. They both fit well with no issues. BuyBuyBaby has an actual seat from a car in their store so you can see how bulky the seat is. You can also easily return your car seat if it doesn't work out.

My fiancé has a Subaru STi, which has a small back seat. I'm not sure how it compares to your car, but it wasn't built to be a family car by any means. Luckily it has four doors! Anyway, we had a Chicco infant seat and we have the Graco Nautilus now. They both fit well with no issues. BuyBuyBaby has an actual seat from a car in their store so you can see how bulky the seat is. You can also easily return your car seat if it doesn't work out.

I have a 2011 cruze and we fit 2 car seats in it comfortably. Ones a convertible for my 3 yo and the others an infant seat with base for 3 month old. There's no issues except having slightly less than ideal leg room in the passenger seat because the infant seats handle being down requires it to take up extra space. Otherwise I love my car, I've had it a little over a year.

I have a 2011 cruze and we fit 2 car seats in it comfortably. Ones a convertible for my 3 yo and the others an infant seat with base for 3 month old. There's no issues except having slightly less than ideal leg room in the passenger seat because the infant seats handle being down requires it to take up extra space. Otherwise I love my car, I've had it a little over a year.

My Mazda 3 we had a peg perego for infant and a recaro convertible for the next stage. We like the recaro it's sleek and small width wise. My in-laws got a britax boulevard for him and they have a Pontiac 6 - it's wider but I think gives more room to move the seat back. And our son loves to get car sick and the britax is way way easier to clean!!!!

My Mazda 3 we had a peg perego for infant and a recaro convertible for the next stage. We like the recaro it's sleek and small width wise. My in-laws got a britax boulevard for him and they have a Pontiac 6 - it's wider but I think gives more room to move the seat back. And our son loves to get car sick and the britax is way way easier to clean!!!!

I have an '07 Chevy Cobalt, which is the previous version of the Cruze. I currently have 3 kids in the back of it, but only one in a car seat. They fit better in my car than in hubby's Ford Escape. We'll see how well it works when the new LO gets here!

I have an '07 Chevy Cobalt, which is the previous version of the Cruze. I currently have 3 kids in the back of it, but only one in a car seat. They fit better in my car than in hubby's Ford Escape. We'll see how well it works when the new LO gets here!

I wouldn't take a lot of the advice on here. I drive an Elantra, it's a small car, and our daughters seat only fit properly (approved by the fire dept) when the front passenger seat was completely up. I had to sit in the back seat for the first year.

I wouldn't take a lot of the advice on here. I drive an Elantra, it's a small car, and our daughters seat only fit properly (approved by the fire dept) when the front passenger seat was completely up. I had to sit in the back seat for the first year.

I have a Honda Fit. We have a Graco Nautilus and a Graco Snugride in the back seat. It is a tight fit, but it works. We have the Nautilus behind the driver side (DH is 6'2") and the infant seat behind the passenger seat (I am 5'6"). I do have to sit a little farther forward than I prefer, but it is not unsafe for me. Hopefully it will still work out when I have to switch to the convertible seat next month.

I have a Honda Fit. We have a Graco Nautilus and a Graco Snugride in the back seat. It is a tight fit, but it works. We have the Nautilus behind the driver side (DH is 6'2") and the infant seat behind the passenger seat (I am 5'6"). I do have to sit a little farther forward than I prefer, but it is not unsafe for me. Hopefully it will still work out when I have to switch to the convertible seat next month.

Azm had a good point. If it's going to be your only car, remember that they are rear-facing for two years. That's a long time to be stuck in the back seat with your LO if the passenger seat has to be moved too far up. Dd has a mini that fits a car seat, but it's never used for all three of us. We take our jetta wagon for family outings.

Azm had a good point. If it's going to be your only car, remember that they are rear-facing for two years. That's a long time to be stuck in the back seat with your LO if the passenger seat has to be moved too far up. Dd has a mini that fits a car seat, but it's never used for all three of us. We take our jetta wagon for family outings.

I drive a scion xa, one of the smallest cars on the market. Ds is RF in his convertible now at 2 years and will stay that way for quite a while longer. The passenger seat is uncomfortable for long trips, but totally fine around town. My peg perrego infant seat behind me fits fine, too. I wouldn't be able to fit three seats, though, and would need a roof rack for trips to grandmas, but that is because of the small trunk space.

I drive a scion xa, one of the smallest cars on the market. Ds is RF in his convertible now at 2 years and will stay that way for quite a while longer. The passenger seat is uncomfortable for long trips, but totally fine around town. My peg perrego infant seat behind me fits fine, too. I wouldn't be able to fit three seats, though, and would need a roof rack for trips to grandmas, but that is because of the small trunk space.

I have a VW Golf, which is smaller than the Chevy Cruze, and easily fit my daughter's infant bucket seat and massive convertible car seat rear facing and fully reclined.

The height of you and your husband will probably play a role in whether or not a large carseat will fit in a smaller car. My husband and I are both approximately 5'6 and I am sure if we were taller it would be a tight squeeze.

I have a VW Golf, which is smaller than the Chevy Cruze, and easily fit my daughter's infant bucket seat and massive convertible car seat rear facing and fully reclined.

The height of you and your husband will probably play a role in whether or not a large carseat will fit in a smaller car. My husband and I are both approximately 5'6 and I am sure if we were taller it would be a tight squeeze.

The material on this website is provided for educational purposes only and is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, or in place of therapy or medical care. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy

Advertising Notice

This Site and third parties who place advertisements on this Site may collect and use information about your visits to this Site and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like to obtain more information about these advertising practices and to make choices about online behavioral advertising, please click here